The Congress has lodged a complain with the Election Commission, EC, against BJP's General Secretary Amit Shah for his alleged provocative speech in Uttar Pradesh. The party has accused Shah of creating animosity between communities. Amit Shah reportedly delivered a speech on Thursday in a village near Muzaffarnagar calling for 'revenge for the insult' during the violence in the area, which took place last year.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi today, Congress Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the party has also urged the state government and Election Commission to lodge a criminal case against Shah and BJP MLA Suresh Rana in this regard. He said the poll body should also bar Amit Shah from campaigning in the elections across the country.

Meanwhile, reacting to the Congress' complain, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said that Amit Shah's comments have been taken out of the context. She alleged that it is the Congress which is communalising the election by meeting religious leaders like Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid.